Nick Clegg unveils £2bn investment for English schools building programme

The deputy prime minister says it is crucial that the government invests properly in education Getty

The UK government will invest £2bn in schools across England to improve buildings and classrooms, Nick Clegg has announced.

The deputy prime minister said that the move, part of the government's Priority School Building Programme, will enable pupils to learn in high quality classrooms and give teachers access to the best facilities.

Clegg, alongside education secretary Nicky Morgan, said that the investment will help rebuild or refurbish buildings at 277 schools.

"It is crucial that we invest properly in education, so that every child has a fair start in life," the Liberal Democrat leader said.

"Thousands of pupils will benefit from better, brighter, warmer classrooms thanks to this ​funding.

He added: "Children can't learn and teachers can't teach in schools that are cold and have leaking roofs.

"To create a stronger economy we have to invest in a fairer society so that our young people can be successful in the future."

The government have also published details of how more than £4bn ($6bn, €5.3bn) will be allocated between 2015 and 2018 to schools, local authorities, academy trusts, and voluntary-aided partnerships to help them improve the condition of schools across the country.

The announcement comes with less than 100 days to go before the general election, with Labour one point ahead of the Tories (33% vs 32%) in the latest opinion poll from YouGov for The Sunday Times.